Texas sees record surge in $1M+ home sales

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1. Trump wants to ban large investors from buying houses

President Trump said Wednesday that he is “taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes,” tying the move to housing affordability concerns.

It remains unclear whether Trump can carry out such a ban without congressional approval, and large investors would still be able to retain their hundreds of thousands of existing homes.

Last month, Trump pledged in a prime-time address that he would roll out “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history” this year.

2. Texas sees record surge in $1M+ home sales

Texas set a record for $1 million home sales from November 2024 through October 2025, according to a new report from Texas Realtors.

The report found that 14,418 homes sold for at least $1 million during the 11-month period, a 12% increase from the previous year and the highest total ever recorded. Those sales were valued at a combined $24.5 billion, also a new statewide record.

The Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington area accounted for the largest share at 38%, with 5,485 homes sold worth a combined $9.7 billion. Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands followed with 27%, while the Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos area made up 19%. The San Antonio–New Braunfels area represented 5%.

3. Catch up quick

🏡 A comprehensive list of 2026 real estate events. (Inman)

📦 Nearly half of homeowners (49%) are considering moving this year. (Kin)

⚖️ Real opts into homebuyer commissions settlement. (RealEstateNews)

✈️ Dallas is a top global travel destination for 2026. (NYTimes)

4. Report: Online research now shapes most buyer and seller agent decisions

According to a Zillow report, digital channels are playing an increasingly central role in agent selection, reshaping traditional referral and word-of-mouth pathways.

About 36% of sellers now find their agents through online sources, more than double the 15% reported in 2018, while 33% of buyers say online research significantly influenced their choice of agent.

This trend reflects a broader shift toward digital engagement and suggests that an agent’s online presence, visibility, and perceived expertise can be decisive even before first contact.

5. Texas ranks first for new arrivals in 2025

In 2025, Texas had the largest share of newcomers in the country, according to U-Haul’s annual Growth Index, which analyzes one-way customer transactions.

The study is based on more than 2.5 million annual U-Haul customers who rent vehicles for one-way trips across the U.S. and Canada. It ranks states by their net gain of customers who rented a one-way vehicle to move from one state to another.

Of those crossing Texas state lines, more U-Haul customers moved into the state (50.7%) than out of it (49.3%). Compared with 2024, the share of customers moving into Texas rose 3%, while the share moving out increased just 1%.

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